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CBS's Pat Kirwin Likes the Texans Chances

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ObsiWan

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Pat Kirwan NFL Insider

No reason why Texans can't get over the playoff hump this season

August 7, 2013 9:01 pm CT
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First-round draft pick DeAndre Hopkins listens to wide receivers coach Larry Kirksey. (USATSI)



The Texans are a solid team, division winner, but unable to get over the top in the playoffs.
Owner Bob McNair wants more mental toughness. Coaches and front office people want the team to stay healthy and get to the playoffs intact. Players don't care about the past. There is a tremendous focus from the quarterback to the 90th guy in camp that they will get to the ultimate goal with hard work.

The pieces are in place for a legitimate run. Now it's a matter of going out and doing it.
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Things I heard or saw at practice
1. First-round WR DeAndre Hopkins went one-on-one with CB Johnathan Joseph over and over and won his fair share of battles for the ball. Watching Hopkins and Andre Johnson work resembled Roddy White and Julio Jones working for the Falcons.
2. All-Pro LT Duane Brown worked against undrafted rookie OLB Willie Jefferson and it was an impressive battle. Brown later said he has taken Jefferson under his wing and is teaching him the tricks of the trade. Jefferson looks better than 2013 draft picks Sam Montgomery and Trevardo Williams.
3. An undrafted returner made a big impression at practice. Dennis Johnson -- a 5-foot-7, 193-pounder -- has a chance to make this team as the return specialist and backup running back. He makes people miss.
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Final thoughts: The Texans should win the division again, but the Colts are closing the gap. Brown didn't shed a tear when Dwight Freeney left the division. This team reminds me of the Ravens when they kept knocking on the door and missing before last season. Houston needs home-field advantage, which they blew last year, if they want to advance to the AFC Championship Game. I think they will win two rounds in the playoffs before the season comes to an end.
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There's more, mostly positive, stuff in the article.

Thoughts?
 
Wow. :clap:

About as comprehensive as I've read in some time. Props to Kirwin, who definitely didn't mail this one in -- paid attention and took notes.

  • The stretch from Week 3 to Week 5 will tell us all we need to know about Houston -- at the Ravens, home against the Seahawks, at the 49ers.
  • Watching Hopkins and Andre Johnson work resembled Roddy White and Julio Jones working for the Falcons.
  • Duane Brown... said he has taken [Willie] Jefferson under his wing and is teaching him the tricks of the trade.
  • there will be even more no-huddle packages this year. Keep an eye... WR Keyshawn Martin, FB Greg Jones and TE Garrett Graham. All three were impressive in practice and present unique problems to a defense.
  • Watt... said he worked all offseason on his third pass rush move to counter things blockers are trying to take away.
  • Newly acquired punter Shane Lechler had a 72-yard punt with a 5.2 hang time the other day, which brought a smile to the owner's face.
  • I expect an increase in their "big nickel" package with three safeties on the field to combat the flex tight ends and running backs who are serious threats out of the backfield.
  • I believe Schaub will close in on 30 touchdown passes this year.
  • Center Chris Myers said they are expanding their power run game with angle blocking and pulling linemen.
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MSR.
 
"blah blah blah blah blah blah blah" Alex Lifeson acceptance speech into the rock and roll hall of fame.......classic.....goes on for a few minutes.....thats what comes to mind when I hear national sports talkers talk about the Texans.....
 
Nice to see nice things in print & all.... but.

Two divisional round exits & we can't get over the hump? We just cleared a small hump & just getting started on the big hump in front of us. It's not like we're the Patriots who've been knocking on the Super Bowl door for the last 7 years (or wahtever), or the Falcons/Bengals/Cowboys who had trouble winning a play off game (until recently for the Falcons).

I just wouldn't classify this as a "can't get over the hump" situation. We're just continuing to grow & setting our sights higher.

Roddy White & Julio Jones? Puh-lease. Since when have they become the definitive dynamic duo?

& closing the gap??? I'm getting so tired of hearing about Andrew Luck. Two QBs drafted behind him showed they were just as special, if not more.







But overall, a good read.
 
thunderkyss said:
Nice to see nice things in print & all.... but.

Two divisional round exits & we can't get over the hump? We just cleared a small hump & just getting started on the big hump in front of us. It's not like we're the Patriots who've been knocking on the Super Bowl door for the last 7 years (or wahtever), or the Falcons/Bengals/Cowboys who had trouble winning a play off game (until recently for the Falcons).

I just wouldn't classify this as a "can't get over the hump" situation. We're just continuing to grow & setting our sights higher.

Roddy White & Julio Jones? Puh-lease. Since when have they become the definitive dynamic duo?

& closing the gap??? I'm getting so tired of hearing about Andrew Luck. Two QBs drafted behind him showed they were just as special, if not more.







But overall, a good read.
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Totally agree. A buddy of mine is a Texans die hard. A season ticket holder, at that. And he is TERRIFIED of the Colts. Scared like a little girl. All I heard from him last year are about how the Colts are so good and we need to watch our backs, blah, blah, blah.

I think, as a fan base, we have been conditioned to fear the Colts. It's automatic for us. They no longer have Peyton Manning (the reason they were so good) but, we still fear "the Colts" brand for some reason.

I don't. My mantra: F--k the Colts. Bring it.
 
houstonspartan said:
Totally agree. A buddy of mine is a Texans die hard. A season ticket holder, at that. And he is TERRIFIED of the Colts. Scared like a little girl. All I heard from him last year are about how the Colts are so good and we need to watch our backs, blah, blah, blah.

I think, as a fan base, we have been conditioned to fear the Colts. It's automatic for us. They no longer have Peyton Manning (the reason they were so good) but, we still fear "the Colts" brand for some reason.

I don't. My mantra: F--k the Colts. Bring it.
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The Colts did bring it last December. The Texans need to bring it.
 
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BullBlitz said:
The Colts did bring it last December. The Texans need to bring it.m
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Yes, we blew that game. Noted. But I'm not trembling in my boots about the Colts like a lot of people.

If I had a concern, it would be with our head coach. If the Texans are playing an evenly matched team, I tend to give the edge to the other team. Coaching matters.
 
houstonspartan said:
Yes, we blew that game. Noted. But I'm not trembling in my boots about the Colts like a lot of people.

If I had a concern, it would be with our head coach. If the Texans are playing an evenly matched team, I tend to give the edge to the other team. Coaching matters.
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I agree with you. The Texans certainly match up well against the Colts. I don't even think that there is a coaching mismatch against the Colts; not like there would be against the Patriots, Ravens, 49ers, Saints and others.

I think we can all agree that the Texans need to do a little better winning against top tier competition and in critical games. Maybe this will be the year.
 
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